Sheriff's office seizes thousands of dollars worth of narcotics
A Sumter man was arrested and Sumter County Sheriff's officers seized over more than $3,000 in illicit drugs Wednesday afternoon.
Lorenzo Blackwell of 110 Dollard Drive was arrested and charged with trafficking cocaine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to a Sumter County Sheriff's Office release.
The 25-year-old was arrested as part of an ongoing undercover investigation, Sumter County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Braden Bunch said.
Officers seized 65 grams of cocaine and 29 grams of marijuana. According to the report, the cocaine has an estimated street value of $3,000 and the marijuana an estimated value of $325.
Sheriff's office deputies found the drugs after narcotics officers conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 15 North. They had assistance from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, according to the report.
Along with the drugs, officers found and seized baking soda, multiple cell phones and a black digital scale.
Bunch said baking soda is often used to cut cocaine.
Scales are used to weigh narcotics and multiple phones are used to try and hide from law enforcement.
Blackwell was arrested without incident and transported to Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center. He awaits a bond hearing.
According to the jail's inmate inquiry, Blackwell's next court date is scheduled for July 31.
If convicted of drug trafficking, the sentence carries prison time between seven and 25 years along with a fine of $50,000 for a first offense.